The 35-year perspective as to prognosis and management of myocardial infarction by Chen et al offered an interesting analysis as to the historic epidemiology of the diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction. The authors specifically reviewed use of medications now clearly shown to be effective and in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. It is obvious that the progress we have made since 1975 is largely because of these improvements. What was left out is what we were doing then that we no longer do now. It is sobering reality that so many common past treatments of myocardial infarction and its complications either did no good or killed people: antiarrhythmic drugs of the IA and IC classes, toxic doses of digoxin, beta agonists for heart failure instead of β blockers, routine pulmonary artery catheters, theophylline or aminophylline to augment diuresis or for co-morbid airways disease, and so forth. In evaluating out profession’s progress, we must include both triumphs and utter failures of past eras.